It was today at Princeton University. I learned a lot from the speakers and the biography in the program. I thought those who couldn’t attend might like to see the latter. Among other things, it conveyed just how hard Uwe worked (and had to work) as a youngster and to obtain his education.
In the postwar years, the Reinhardt family (Uwe’s mother, grandmother, and his four siblings) lived in a rural toolshed without electricity or water and often went hungry. Heavy physical work started at a young age out of necessity, and economic deprivation instilled discipline and work ethic; laughter, singing, and his mother reading to the children by candlelight were constants of family life. Uwe always said he had the best and happiest childhood in the world. […]
After three years of working two jobs (the second job parking cars at night), Uwe had saved enough money to go to the “cheapest” university in Canada — the University of Saskatchewan — graduating as the winner of the Governor’s Gold Medal (valedictorian).
The rest is in pictures, below. Click to enlarge.
